Sponsored by
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Owls are back and fit for service, says Wilcox
OWLS assistant Russ Wilcox says Sheffield Wednesday's players are in excellent shape as the squad prepare to report back for training next week.
Wilcox oversaw the first batch to return on Wednesday as the pre-season games ahead of season 2009-10 draw ever closer.
The number two was delighted with what he saw insisting fitness coach Tom Little's programme had come up trumps.
"Everybody who came in was spot on and that's just what we were hoping for," said Wilcox. "When they went off, the players were given a programme by Tom to help them during the weeks away.
"The days of players going away at the end of a season, doing nothing and then coming back in with pounds to get rid of are long gone.
"Tom structured things just right and we can see, by this initial testing, if players have done the work and, roughly, how much they've done.
"It keeps them on their toes. They know they've to come back in some sort of shape and, if they've done the work, they'll be okay. Players are naturally competitive so they won't want to come in behind their mates.
"Of course there is some drop-off in the fitness level, but we are having players coming back at 80 per cent, which means they are not far off at all. What we have seen so far is that they are returning fitter than ever.
"I think that shows commitment on their part."
Meanwhile, Owls fans may get the opportunity to create wall to wall home support next term with the club re-designating the use of the West Stand and looking at opening up an upgraded north-west corner.
"We are trying to bring the north west corner back into play; it's been off limits recently we are generally trying to make it more versatile in the west stand," explained Owls chief executive Nick Parker.
"According to the number of away supporters we anticipate, we would be able to mix that stand with away and home.
"So if Plymouth Argyle, for example, don't send many supporters we can separate the upper and lower and use the corner."
Wednesday's pre-season will begin with their trip to Malta for two triangular mini-torunaments on Monday, July 13 and Thursday, July 16.
The first tournament also involves Valetta and Silema with the second featuring Birkirkara FC and Dingli Swallows.
The Owls have also added a friendly at Frickley Athletic on Wednesday, July 19.
The two home highlights of Wednesday's pre-season are the Hillsborough clashes with Hull City on Saturday, July 25 and Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, August 1.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Leeds United: Whites ponder next move in hunt for new manager LATEST
- Web poll: Who is to blame for Leeds United’s league position? VOTE HERE
- Leeds United: Time for Ken Bates and Co to listen up
- Leeds man remanded on sister murder charge UPDATED
- Leeds United: Aston Villa boss drops hint on Fabian Delph
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 0 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
